Wood trim color change

JOE-DOT-COM · August 18, 2017

Hi

Changed the wood trim today in my S-type

All ways liked the darker colors, so I decided to have a change

Bought a set of trim off eBay, they can be bought really cheap

Decided on Carbon Fiber look, so had them Hydrodipped in Carbon effect and they came out really well

The pictures don't do them justice, they look really well in the flesh, really deep gloss

Also changed the centre vent while I was at it for one with a clock in it, looks well

I just wan't a charcoal armrest now, the ivory armrest is just too bright for me, think the charcoal one will match the seats, as there ivory/charcoal

I usually like original, so I've saved the parts, so any future owner could put them back, if I had bought the car from new this is how I would of ordered it

cheers

Joe

Old Peter · August 19, 2017

It looks very nice, Joe. But the Ivory armrest does stand out like a carrot in a rhubarb pie!

My s type has Dove grey upholstery which goes well with a dark grey armrest!

Peter,

Carole Simpson-Hadley · August 19, 2017

That looks well, Joe. Hopefully, look forward to seeing it at a future Breakfast Club Meet.

We are happy with our polished wood effect, but everybody has their own choice. Particularly good idea to keep the originals in case you sell. (Unlikely, methinks!).

As always, happy growling

Old Peter · August 19, 2017

God did send the message 100 years ago, but young Billy Lyons was messing around with motor bikes at the time.

But I did like the Burr Walnut on my Rovers, and I think yje Maple on my S Type does suit the SE trim.

Peter.

JOE-DOT-COM · August 20, 2017

Hi

Modern cars feature heavily with carbon fiber, it's the future, strength and weight

As used on the F type R

The carbon effect trim was a option on the X types and so was the piano black, but it was never on the S type.

But suppose the S type was badged as a old man's car and if it didn't have chrome it didn't cut it

But suppose they have to moved with the times, most new jaguar's don't have much chrome at all now, to meet the younger generation

If Sir William lyons, was making the E-type today it would be made from carbon fiber, aluminium cars just don't cut it any more, family cars ate made from alloy now

Cheers

Joe

Old Peter · August 20, 2017

Quite Correct, Joe.

Malcolm Sayer, who designed the Competition Car the XK120 for William Lyons has worked for the Bristol Aircraft Company and introduced not only aerodynamics but also used the power to weight ratio to increase the speed. The D Type [XK 140] used all of these in it Le Mans history. The E Type [XK 150] was again designed with lightness in mind and would certainly have used the lightest and strongest materials available.

Regards,

Peter.

Old Peter · August 20, 2017

An E Type driven by the daughter of Malcolm Sayer who designed it.

I took the photo myself at Swansway Jaguar in Crewe.

Peter.

Old Peter · August 20, 2017

Just a little addition, Ron in respect pf the Mark2. The Mark 2 was quite a basic car, and didn't have leather seats, using what we call rexine. Three years after if was produced Bill Lyons wanted a bit more luxury, and instead of just adding it to the Mark2 he introduce a very similar car which he called the Mark2 - S Type, which had the leather seats and a few more luxury and engineering bits. It was built alongside the Mark 2.

Peter.

Carole Simpson-Hadley · August 20, 2017

Oh dear, look what you've started, Joe!!!!

Must say, you have valid points Joe, and if JLR (or, in our case, Jaguar) don't move with the times then they would be sunk. That said, my partner and I, like Ron, are very much traditionalists and go for the wood veneer everytime. As with everything, it's a matter of personal taste and choice, and there are no rights and wrongs (unless, of course, you're Katie Price and paint your car pink..urrgh!).

We don't, either, recall wood veneer being any sort of option for the E-type.

With regard to the Mk2 (or MkII, according to your taste), my partner says that the original Mk2 had leather upholstery. In 1967 the 240 and 340 were introduced (basically similar to the Mk2) as a stop-gap pending introduction of the XJ6. In these, the leather was replaced with Ambla, tufted carpets were used, and (the easiest way to recognise them) the bumpers were much thinner and bladed, unlike the Mk2s "fluted" affairs. Also, the foglamps next to the grille became an option and the windtone horns were replaced with ordinary flat horns. Only available in 2.4 or 3.4 form, the 3.8 form being dropped, although a cunning person from Jaguar (in the era) says some did leave the factory with 3.8 units, to special order.

The original S-type also had the leather upholstery and, for us old f....s, the wood trim.

We think that a current F-type with wood trim would seem a bit odd! Having said all of that, our XK X150 has the aluminium dashboard which, on this occasion, we feel suits the car better, particularly as the paintwork is Lunar Grey and the upholstery light cream.

Which brings us full circle. Horses for courses, so we'll accept that Jaguar has to keep up with the modern market whilst at the same time labelling ourselves as traditionalists. No pink Jaguars for us, then!

Our cuddly jaguar mascot who resides in the back of the XK, and rejoices in the name of Felixstowe (Felix the cat who stowed away) agrees entirely, so grrr.

As always, happy growling whatever trim you have

Old Peter · August 20, 2017

Hi Carole,

The Ambla seat covering did indeed appear in the 240 and the 340, but somewhere, I think it was in a sales brochure for the USA that I looked at while doing my research on the Jaguar Mark 2 indicated that the 1960 version had leather seats as an optional extra, and I think that most of the cars produced had that option fitted.

I don't know where I found that brochure, but when I have the time I will look it out from the mountain of paper I have used.

On the use of wood in cars, my 1962 Triumph Herald had a lot of wood, mostly used to stop water getting in through the floor. Sadly, and with 98k on the clock and the MOT ,which was a 5 year one and which only had brakes, lights and steering, to pass issued me with an advisory that the car was falling apart, the car finished up on the Council Tip!

Regards,

Peter.

Carole Simpson-Hadley · August 20, 2017

Oh dear, the Triumph Herald, with the famous jacking-up rear suspension, a sure way to have unplanned visits into the scenery! We believe rust came as a Standard (pun intended....Standard-Triumph) fitting.

Happy days

Carole Simpson-Hadley · August 20, 2017

Aha, Ron. If we are not mistaken, that's a Mk2. Apart from anything else, the S-type never had the thicker bumpers. Nevertheless, a great memory. Trust you doffed your hat.

Memories are made of this.

Leo · August 20, 2017

That is indeed a Mk2. My father had an S Type 3.8 back in the 1960s. The back and front ends were totally different from the Mk2.

It was a lovely car which he kept for about 5 years, and started my affection for Jaguar. It was opalescent silver blue, had grace and pace, and I wish we had kept it!

Carole Simpson-Hadley · August 20, 2017

Ditto, Leo. My partner had a '65 3.4 manual S-type in the 1970s, silver with red leather. Ditto, wish it had been kept, the IRS was a big step forward from the Mk2. The gearlever began to pop out of the gearbox casing eventually, and, it is recalled, this was fixed (including removing the console etc) with little more than a set of bicycle spanners and a small socket set. Wonder what the fault codes would have made of that.

Happy traditional growling!

Carole Simpson-Hadley · August 20, 2017

And the wood and leather was the important bit, we entirely agree!

Can't imagine Churchill with a carbon-fibre desk and an electronic bowler hat? Us traditionalists.

Happy growling

Leo · August 20, 2017

2 hours ago, Carole Simpson-Hadley said:

Ditto, Leo. My partner had a '65 3.4 manual S-type in the 1970s, silver with red leather. Ditto, wish it had been kept, the IRS was a big step forward from the Mk2. The gearlever began to pop out of the gearbox casing eventually, and, it is recalled, this was fixed (including removing the console etc) with little more than a set of bicycle spanners and a small socket set. Wonder what the fault codes would have made of that.

Happy traditional growling!

Dad's was very reliable, the only problem I recall being recurring blistering to the paintwork below the headlights. I used to rub it down, prime and respray, but never managed to get the silver blue to match perfectly, and it would start to blister again after a year or so.

The woodwork was wonderfully rich, and there was loads of it. I loved the wood, especially the way it extended to things like the door caps. I love the wood on my XK too.

To me (and I recognise that it is a matter of personal taste), there is nothing can match good quality wood and leather.